Huaca Huantille

And besides ...

I have a new fabulous new camera and need some new places to photograph!

This photo was taken through my kitchen window of the newspaper kiosk three blocks down the street!

Where Next?

Of the twelve countries in South America, we have only spent time in two – Perú and Argentina (we have both taken bus trips across the border to Chile to renew our visas – 22 hours each way – but didn't see any of the country, so it doesn't count). Much as I would love to return to the amazing Buenos Aires in Argentina, and much as I am appalled that after 2 ½ years, we have seen nothing of Perú outside of Lima (and little of Lima itself), it is also time, I think, to see some more of the continent. I am only in the beginning of my thought process on this, so I'm just thinking outloud here, but I'm looking at Ecuador or Colombia as our most likely trips sometime soon. Chile, of course, also has much to offer and everyone I know who has been there seems to fall in love with it. So it is high on the list of possibilities for the future also. Venezuela might be interesting these days. I've always wanted to see Uruguay, so if we get that far south at some time in the future, that would clearly involve a return to Argentina also. There are so many places on other continents that float around on the edge of my consciousness (Malaysia, Vietnam, numerous places in western and eastern europe, India … ) that I have to really work to stay focused on this idea of seeing South America, but I am determined to do so. So how about a trip real soon to either Ecuador or Colombia, with another South American country before the year is out. And meanwhile, how about planning the next trip(s) outside the continent, with a plan to do another major trip during 2014 if not before. That's a good framework on which to build a plan. Admittedly though, it's a bit too broad to ensure project completion.

The countries of South America: Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Perú

My Latest Project - Writing

So I'm trying to get into doing some writing. Been having fun on Squidoo. It's an online site where you can write about anything that interests you - and make money doing it, too - from ads and other things on the site. It's pretty slick. They also do contests and such to get you thinking. I did one in which we were supposed to write about one of our favorite photos. It has made the front page of Squidoo every day recently. It's about a photo I took on my first time in a Peruvian market.

Slept through Another One!

So I guess we had an earthquake this morning - about 5:30. It was only a 5.4 so I don't think we usually feel those anyhow. Although they say that if you're on a high floor, you will feel them. Hmmm...this is interesting to think about. Vamos a ver!

Kids Working the Streets

The government this week announced a program to help rescue children begging or working on the streets. I hope the program succeeds. Everywhere I've been in the world (including Seattle, Washington) I've seen this happening. I see very little of it now compared to when we first visited Lima 4 years ago. But that may just be my area, not all of Lima. In Guatemala it was horrible - little kids, not more than 4 years old - begging or selling trinkets in the streets at 10 o'clock at night.

Peru Feeds the World

What food was being cultivated in Peru 7,000 years ago and fed most of Europe in the 18th century? Peruvian food may only just now becoming the "in" food in many countries, but it has been hugely important to the world for centuries!
I've been learning a lot more about this important Peruvian crop. It seems that the more I learn about Peru, the more I realize what a huge impact the country has had on the rest of the world.

By Popular Request

Arrow points to our balcony - next to the last floor

Progress on Apartment

Feb 14-This looks interesting

Cupola-Only 2 blocks away

Mar 26-It's Ours!

May 22-Balcony View

Jul 17-Getting Close

This will be our Nite View from the Balcony

It's All the Librarian's Fault

Over the years, many have wondered about my seemingly insatiable urge to move on. Like many personality traits, I don't think it is necessarily a good thing or a bad thing. It's just the way I am. After a certain amount of reflection, I've decided it may all have started with long-ago Tuesday evening visits with a woman named Barbara.

Apartment Prices up 20%

Holy Crap! 20%! Glad we already bought one. But this can't go on forever!

The Real Estate Boom Continues

And this is why we would no longer be able to afford to buy in Miraflores. Happily, we've discovered that we like Magdalena del Mar even more - and the prices there are about where the Miraflores prices were when we were first looking 2 1/2 years ago!

El Kapallaq

El Kapallaq! Probably still my favorite restaurant in town. Too bad they moved. When we discovered them, they were four blocks from our apartment. Today we went and checked out their new location on the other side of Miraflores. Still the same impeccable service, incredible food, lots of attention from owner/chef Luis Cordero (who remembered us from the old neighborhood and treated us to pisco sours!) The new place is beautiful, has twice as much space as the old place, a separate (small) bar, a totally open kitchen. In short, we totally love the new place. On the other hand, we really miss the old place, with its  old style charm, its intimacy, its feeling that it was your own secret hideaway. We had a wonderful lunch with new friends Carol and Roger, along with the unstoppable Dorothee! Great Saturday afternoon!
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Another new project

I've been having fun writing articles on Squidoo. The fun thing is that I can write about anything that enters my mind - kind of like blogging but with a bigger audience! My latest article: Peru - Best Country for Foodies!  I hope you'll check out my articles and tell me what else you'd like to read about. I'm having fun with this.

Seeing a Need & Doing Something about It

It was ten years ago. She didn't speak much Spanish and she was only a tourist in Peru, but she recognized a need and knew she could find a way to help. Diana Bowie tells me that her first river trip in the Amazon was not a fun experience. On a boat all night with a cook who spoke no English, but offered her a sandwich, she arrived on the bank of a village at day break. A couple of hours later, the person who was to meet her showed up. The return trip was no better. But along the way, Diana learned that the people in the villages had no access to health care or information. As a registered nurse with an MBA and a great deal of experience in health care, she was determined to help. After a year working in various clinics in the Amazon region, she traveled with a guide she had met to several villages along the Napo River, talking with the villagers about their needs. The focus of Diana's future efforts was determined from that trip:

To bring as much basic care to the villages as possible and train the people to care for themselves.

In areas where the nearest clinic may be 8 to 16 hours away by canoe, helping to bring health care to the people makes a huge difference in their lives. Since 2002, Diana and her friend  Renzo Peña have made more than 45 trips to the jungle, carrying medicine, supplies, doctors and other medical volunteers, radios, solar panels. They have done medical and dental exams and treatment, pap smears. They have done health fairs and seminars, women's projects. They have often carried severely injured or desperately ill patients on their boat to a hospital. Their many special projects, like a scholarship program and building a school add to their achievements.
Diana's NGO, DB Peru, welcomes volunteers to assist with their work in the jungle. Unlike many such organizations, there is no charge to volunteer, although of course participants do pay their own expenses. For the first time, this year the organization, with the support of other groups and sponsors, will do some fund raising events, including a gala at the home of the Australian ambassador to Peru in October. I have been asked to assist the organization as a member of the local advisory board. Since I have a huge amount of respect for Diana and am overwhelmed by her achievements, I am very happy to work with the group. But what, I wonder, can I really do to help. 

Cleaning a Machete Cut

Last night I attended another meeting of the board. The members are extremely knowledgeable and experienced. The seem to know all the ins and outs of Peru and Lima society, the people, the other organizations. They clearly have experience with marketing, promotion, NGO's, fund-raising, the jungle, world health issues. An amazing group of people. So what, I ask, do I have to offer? My financial training and experience is so out of date, it's rusting like metal in Lima. I have no background in promotion, etc and not being a particularly social person, I know almost no one. Yet I would very much like to help Diana's group somehow. So I will hang in there, hoping to learn from this impressive group of people and hoping to ultimately find a way to help in a real way. Meanwhile, dear readers, your suggestions are always welcome.
Photos by permission of DB Peru

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Cocktails at the Ambassador's Residence

We were invited Saturday evening to the 90th birthday party of the American Women's Literary Club. It was quite an affair, held at the residence of the US ambassador to Peru. The building itself is amazing. Met some fascinating people. Pretty impressive that this group has been in existence for all those years, through all that the country has been through during that time. What amazing people I keep meeting here in Peru. Peruvians, long-time expats, newcomers. All have interesting stories.

Anticuchos - One of My Favorite Street Foods in the Whole World

Grilled beef heart on a stick. Marinated in some kind of fabulous concoction which makes it taste totally fabulous. Best when found on the side of a little street somewhere. The more people lined up to buy a serving, the better it will be. Crowds, smoke, happy people, great food - and sometimes even tv to watch while you wait! What more could you ask for!

The Bus Trip that Was - Finally

Yup! I really finally got to Chile - and the trip down only took 21 hours (as compared to the 19 hours advertised by the bus company). Leaving at 2 pm on Saturday, we arrived in Tacna (Peru) at 11 am the next day (Happy Mothers' Day!). But of course, arriving at Tacna doesn't mean you're there yet.

La Noche en Blanco

Again I will miss one of Lima's premier cultural events. La Noche en Blanco is an annual event of art, music and entertainment. It sounds like it will be a fantastic night and I had plans to go, since it's in easy walking distance from our house. That was when I was supposed to leave for Chile earlier this week. Now, since the miners demonstrating along the road have delayed my bus trip til the weekend, I will miss all the excitement. And it looks like there will be some fascinating art. Sometimes my timing is messed up even when I plan it.

The Bus Trip that Wasn't - Cont'd

Still no bus trip. Maybe tomorrow.

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